Ground excavator



1,6 9,215 Aug- 1 M. DE GRASS! 3 GROUND EXCAVATOR Filed Sept, 16,1].925 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR.

BY lkrz'o'pe C rasazl A TTORNEY Au 16 19 I g 27 M. DE GRASSI GROUND-EXCAVAT'OR Filed Sept. 16. 1925 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mdrz'oDe 6222.556

7 Rd NE! Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

MARIO 1m GRASSI, or PHILADELPHIA, P N SYLVANIA.

r GROUND ExoAvA'ron.

Application filed September 16, 1925 Serial No. 56,570.

The present invention relates to improvements in excavators for tunneling purposes or the like, and it is the principal object of the invention to provide an excavator or tunneling machine having a plurality of motor operated rotating cutters or excavating implements, and which is equipped with means for disposing of the excavated soil.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of an excavator or tunneling machine, the tools of which are mounted in a peculiar and novel manner and can be spread and held in their spreaded positions to any desired degree.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tunneling machine which can be readily transported from one work place to another, under its own power.

,A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tunneling machine allow ing a folding of the tools upon its body when they are not in use, and allowing a steering of the machine. v

It is also one of the objects of the invention to provide a tunneling machine equipped with suitable coupling means to couple and uncouple the tools and the working mechanism and to couple the motor to the rear axle in case transportation is desired.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 illustrates a tunnel excavator constructed according to the present invention. during its transportation from one working place to another.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a front end view of the excavator.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the same on line lt of Figure 2. p

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the excavator.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view I of the excavator, the section being taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the excavator in section on line 77 of F igure 5. v

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary corner view of the excavator.

Fig. 9 is adetail view of one of the integral excavator'teeth or tools broken from the member 22. v

The tunnel excavator constructed according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical, and horizontally disposed housing 10 on wheels 11, preferably of the tractor type, adapted to be steered by means of a steering Wheel 12 on post 13, carrying near its lower end a gear 14 in mesh with a toothed segment 15 pivotally attached, as at 16, to a block 17 on the front axle of the excavator, designated 18.

The front. end of the excavator housing 10 is closed by means of a rotary cap 19 having an inner groove in which is guided a rib or flange 20 on the housing 10.

A plurality of soil engaging and cutting tools 21 are suitably grouped and integral with substantially triangularly shaped blades 22 hinged by pintle pins 23 at their rear ends, as at 23, to the cap 19, and which are so arranged that their front ends form substantially a point 24. The blades 22 are held in their spread position by means of a disc 25 having a plurality of curved fingers 26 formed on its side face adapted to engage pins 27 projecting from bosses 27 in the blades 22. The disc has attached thereto a collar 28 at the end of a horizontal shaft 29 entering the housing 10, and carrying within the same a hand Wheel 30. s

The cap 19 has an inner peripheral rack 31 formed therewith adapted to be engaged by a toothed wheel 32 on a shaft 33 carrying a coupling member 3& adapted to beengaged by a similar coupling member 35 on a shaft 36, and a suitable clutch shifting device 37 is provided for coupling both coupling memers.

The shaft 36 is journaled in suitable guides 38, 39 in the housing and carries near guide 38 a bevel gear 40 in mesh with a similar bevel gear 41 on a shaft 42 of a compressed air or other suitable motor within housing 43, and having a regulating fly wheel 4:4:- Suitable legs 45 carry the support for the motor and are supported by a false bottom 46 Within the housing 10. j

The opposite end of shaft 36 carries near the guide 39 a bevel gear 47 meshing with a bevel gear 48 on a stub shaft 49 which carries also a gear 50 in mesh with a similar gear 51 on shaft 52 which carries also a bevel gear 53 in mesh with a similar gear 54 on an inclined shaft 55 carrying a plurality IOU of worm-blades 56 within a housing 57 supported by links 57 depending from casing 10, said housing ending at the front in a chute 58 into which the earth or soil etc. excavated by the rotary tools is deposited.

This soil is carried backward by the worm blades and is finally dumped at the opposite end of the carrier onto an. endless apron 59 guided over rollers 60, 61 adapted to be operated by a motor or any other ordinary suitable means within housing 43 by driving the shaft 62 of roller 61, said shaft 62 has fixed thereon a spur gear 62, meshing with another gear 62" co-axial with a bevel gear 62, which meshes with another bevel gear 62 on shaft 4:9.

The roller is attached to the rear end of a table 63 pivotally secured, as at 64, to a standard or post 65 so that table and the end of the apron'59 projecting from the rear end of the housing 10 can be swung about pivot 6% into the housing when not in use.

The soil carried along on the apron 59 is dumped into a dump car 66 on wheels 67.

The housing carries atop cutting fin or tool 68 for cutting the ceiling of the tunnel above the housing so as to permit a gripping of the soil, together with wheels 11. The cutting elements 21, eXtend backwards as far as the hinges 23, and as the cap 19 rotates a hole is formed in the soil about the diameter of the cap to the hinges. The cas- 10 is smaller than this diameter, permitting an easy passage of the whole ma chine. The wheels 11 and the fin 68 pro ject outside of this diameter, and therefore provide a gripping means for the whole macl'iine, as the wheels 11 turn to force the machine forward.

The rear axle 69 has a worm formed ther with adapted to be engaged by a worm 70 on a vertical shaft erected on the bottom of housing 10 and carrying at its upper end a. coupling member 71 adapted to be engaged by a coupling member 1 2 adapted to be shifted into engagement with each other by means of a shifting device 73 adapted to be operated by means of draw bar 74 from the hand lever 75. The coupling member 72 is mounted on the shaft l9.

A rear door 76 closes the rear end of the housing, and a partition wall 77: se mrates from tl'ie'hinges 23. Upon setting the ma chine for operation the blades are rehinged in place, the ends are collected into the point 24, and the projecting pins 27 of each blade are engaged by the fingers 26 of the disc 25, upon a slight rotation of the said disc. While the motor in casing 43 runs, the worm-blades 56 are caused to revolve, and So is the roller 61 ofthe endless apron 59. Upon the proper manipulation of lever 37', the clutch 345, 35 is engaged, transmitting the rotation of shaft 36 to'the rotary cap 19, on which are mounted the blades 22 having cutters 21. The whole machine forges ahead, and forces'the cut soil to enter the space 22 between the various blades 22 falling into chute 58, it is conveyed by the worm-blades 56 to the endless apron 59, and thereafter to the car 66. V

The operation of my device will be entirely clear from the above description and need not further be explained. itis to be understood, that while i have shown and described he preferred embodiment of the invention an example of the many ways to execute the same in practice, such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims may be made in its construction and in the arrangement of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention and the principles involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In a tunneling and excavating machine of the class described, a plurality of substantiall triangul'arly shaped blades forming a point at their front meeting ends, a plurality of cutting tools on each of said blades, a disc, a plurality of fingers on said disc, pins on said blades adapted to be en gaged by said lingers, a shaft and a hand wheel connected to said disc for spreading said blades, a motor, and means for coupling and uncoupling said motor from the tool operating means, and a means for disposing of the soil excavated by said tools at the rear of the machine.

2. in a tunneling and excavating device, the combination of a housing, a cap rotatably mounted on said housing, substantially triangularly shaped blades hingedly mounted on said cap, closing the front of the cap. and forming a point, said blades having cutting tools thereon, a partition depending from said housing, a horizontal shaft mounted hi said partition, a hand wheel on one end sain shaft, a disc on the other end of said shaft, said disc being formed with a plurality of curvedfingers, and pins depend- '7 from said blades, engageable by said fi ers.

In testimony whereof I signature.

MARIO DE GRASSI.

have affixed my lit) 

